<p>[Cf #1598.3 below.] A 1598 trial … <p>[Cf #1598.3 below.] A 1598 trial in the Surrey town of Guildford includes a statement by John Derrick, then aged 59. According to a 1950 history of Guildford's Royal Grammar School, "[H]e stated that he had known the [disputed] ground for fifty years or more and that 'when he was a scholar in the free school of Guildford, he and several of his fellows did run and play there at cricket and other plays.' This is believed to be the first recorded mention of cricket."</p>
<p>Brown, J. F., <u>The Story of the Royal Grammar School, Guildford</u>, 1950, page 6. <b>Note:</b> it would be interesting to see the original reference, and to know how 1550 was chosen as the reported year of play.</p> en as the reported year of play.</p>